Self-photographing mount device

ABSTRACT

A self-photographing mount device for holding a camera equipped user device at a distance from a user, comprising: a mounting structure having at least two corner mounting elements for mounting a camera equipped user device in parallel to a mounting plane; an extendable shaft having a handle at a proximal end thereof; and a hinge mounted on one of the at least two corner mounting elements to allow pivotal rotation of the extendable shaft from a folded position to an open position; when in the folded position, the extendable shaft is adjacent to the mounting plane and parallel to a diagonal of a back panel of the camera equipped user device; and when in the open position, the extendible shaft forms a wide angle with the mounting plane.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/730,293 filed on Jun. 4, 2015, which claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/008,000 filed on Jun. 5, 2014.

The contents of the above applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to aself-photographing mount device and, more particularly, but notexclusively, to a self-photographing mount device for holding a cameraequipped user device at a distance from a user.

When a user wishes to take a photograph of himself using a cameraequipped user device, such as a mobile phone, the user has to hold themobile phone at a distance from himself. To extend the distance the usermay achieve using his arm, a self-photographing mount device may beused.

Existing self-photographing mount devices in include a mountingstructure connected to a shaft having a handle. Some of the mountdevices include an extendable shaft. Some of the mount devices include ashaft having button to operate the camera equipped user device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a self-photographing mount device for holding a cameraequipped user device at a distance from a user, comprising: a mountingstructure having at least two corner mounting elements for mounting acamera equipped user device in parallel to a mounting plane; anextendable shaft having a handle at a proximal end thereof; and a hingemounted on one of the at least two corner mounting elements to allowpivotal rotation of the extendable shaft from a folded position to anopen position; when in the folded position, the extendable shaft isadjacent to the mounting plane and parallel to a diagonal of a backpanel of the camera equipped user device; and when in the open position,the extendible shaft forms a wide angle with the mounting plane.

Optionally, the mounting structure comprises: a first corner mountingelement; a second corner mounting element linearly moveable along a lineto adjust at least one of a width and a length of the camera equippeduser device; and a diagonal support element connecting between the firstand second corner mounting elements and diagonally adjacent to a back ofthe camera equipped user device, the diagonal support element islinearly moveable along a line to adjust a diagonal length of the cameraequipped user device.

Optionally, the mounting structure comprises: a first and a secondcorner mounting elements; and a diagonal support element connectingbetween the first and second corner mounting elements and diagonallyadjacent to a back of the camera equipped user device, the diagonalsupport element is linearly moveable along a line to adjust a diagonallength of the camera equipped user device; wherein each one of the firstand second corner mounting elements are connected to the diagonalsupport element by a hinge, so the first and second corner mountingelements are each rotated on the hinge to adjust to a diagonal of thecamera equipped user device.

Optionally, the camera equipped user device is a mobile phone.

Optionally, the camera equipped user device is a pocket camera.

Optionally, the extendable shaft comprises at least one button tooperate the camera equipped user device.

Optionally, the hinge is locked in the open position and in the foldedposition by a fastener.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a self-photographing mount device for holding a cameraequipped user device at a distance from a user, comprising: a mountingstructure for mounting a camera equipped user device, comprising: afirst corner mounting element; a second corner mounting element linearlymoveable along a line to adjust at least one of a width and a length ofthe camera equipped user device; and a diagonal support elementconnecting between the first and second corner mounting elements anddiagonally adjacent to a back of the camera equipped user device, thediagonal support element is linearly moveable along a line to adjust adiagonal length of the camera equipped user device; and an extendableshaft having a handle at a proximal end thereof, connected to one of thefirst and second corner mounting elements by a hinge allow pivotalrotation of the extendable shaft from a folded position to an openposition.

Optionally, when in the folded position, the extendable shaft is aboutparallel and adjacent to the diagonal support element and when in theopen position, the extendible shaft forms a wide angle with the mountingplane.

Optionally, at least one of the first corner mounting elements, thesecond corner mounting element and the diagonal support element islocked by a fastener.

Optionally, at least one of the first corner mounting elements, thesecond corner mounting element and the diagonal support element islocked by a mechanism having discrete possible positions along a line.

Optionally, at least one of the first corner mounting elements, thesecond corner mounting element and the diagonal support element islocked by a spring mechanism and by resistance created by the mountedcamera equipped user device.

Optionally, the second corner mounting element is linearly moveablealong a line by moving inside a track.

Optionally, the diagonal support element is linearly moveable along aline by including an inner diagonal element moving inside an outerdiagonal element.

Optionally, at least one of the first and second corner mountingelements comprises two perpendicular straight segments, each one of thestraight segments is adjacent and parallel to a side wall of the mountedcamera equipped user device.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method for adjusting a self-photographing mountdevice, comprising: adjusting a diagonal support element of a cameraequipped user device mounting structure to fit a diagonal length of thecamera equipped user device between a first corner mounting element anda second corner mounting element; adjusting the first corner mountingelement to fit at least one of a width and a length of the cameraequipped user device; and opening a hinge connecting an extendable shaftto one of the first and second corner mounting elements from a foldedposition to an open position so the extendable shaft may be used to holdthe mounting structure.

Optionally, the method further comprises: extending the extendable shaftto increase a distance between the camera equipped user device and auser.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplarymethods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, thepatent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are notintended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a self-photographing mount devicein a folded position, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a self-photographing mount devicein an open position, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view drawing of a self-photographing mount devicein an open position, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are schematic illustrations of different viewsof a self-photographing mount device, according to some embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a self-photographing mount devicemounting an iPhone 5 mobile phone, according to some embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are schematic illustrations of different viewsof a self-photographing mount device mounting an iPhone 5 mobile phone,according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart schematically representing a method for adjustinga self-photographing mount device, according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to aself-photographing mount device and, more particularly, but notexclusively, to a self-photographing mount device for holding a cameraequipped user device at a distance from a user.

The camera equipped user device may be any type of portable deviceequipped with photographing capabilities, for example, a pocket camera,a mobile phone and/or any other device.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, there isprovided a self-photographing mount device having a mounting structurewith at least two corner mounting elements for mounting a cameraequipped user device in parallel to a mounting plane; an extendableshaft having a handle at a proximal end thereof; and hinge mounted onone of the corner mounting elements to allow pivotal rotation of theextendable shaft from a folded position in parallel to the mountingstructure to an open position, forming a wide angle with the mountingplane of the mounted self-photographing mount device. When in foldedposition, the mount device is not in use and is folded to a compact formwhere the extendable shaft is adjacent to the mounting plane andparallel to a diagonal of a back panel of the camera equipped userdevice. When in open position, the mount device may be used forself-photographing when a user holds the handle of the extendible shaft.In open position the extendible shaft forms a wide angle with themounting plane of the mounting structure.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, there isprovided a self-photographing mount device having a mounting structurethat comprises: a first corner mounting element; a second cornermounting element linearly moveable along a line to adjust the width orthe length of the camera equipped user device; and a diagonal supportelement connecting between the corner mounting elements and diagonallyadjacent to the back of the camera equipped user device and is linearlymoveable along a line to adjust the diagonal length of the cameraequipped user device. The linearly moveable parts of the mountingstructure allow any of a plurality of camera equipped user devices withvarious sizes to be mounted on the mounting structure by simpleadjustment of the linearly moveable parts. The mount device alsoincludes an extendable shaft with a handle at a proximal end thereof,connected to one of the corner mounting elements by a hinge to allowpivotal rotation of the extendable shaft to a folded position.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of aself-photographing mount device in a folded position, according to someembodiments of the present invention. Reference is also made to FIG. 2,which is a schematic illustration of a self-photographing mount devicein an open position, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention.

Mount device 100 may be made of any material, for example, plastic,metal and/or any other material or combination thereof.

Mount device 100 includes a mounting structure 110 having at least twocorner mounting elements 111 and 112 for mounting a camera equipped userdevice in parallel to a mounting plane 101. Corner mounting element 111is linearly moveable along a line 102 to adjust to the width of thecamera equipped user device.

Optionally, some or all of the corner mounting elements are L-shaped,having two perpendicular straight segments. Each straight segment isadjacent and parallel to a side wall of the camera equipped user device.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which is an exploded view drawing of aself-photographing mount device in an open, position according to someembodiments of the present invention. Reference is also made to FIGS.4A, 4B, 4C and 4D which are schematic illustrations of different viewsof a self-photographing mount device, according to some embodiments ofthe present invention.

Optionally, the linear movement of corner mounting element 111 isobtained by moving corner mounting element 111 inside a track 114 builtinto mounting structure 110. The linear movement of corner mountingelement 111 may be also be obtained by any other mechanical structure,for example, a linear-motion bearing, rack and pinion and/or any otherstructure.

Optionally, corner mounting element 111 is locked in position along theline of linear movement by a fastener 115 so corner mounting element 111cannot move along a line 102 without opening the locking. Fastener 115may be any type of mechanical element that tightens corner mountingelement 111 in position, such as a screw, a screw with a spring, aratchet, a quick release lever and/or any other mechanism. Optionally,corner mounting element 111 is locked by a mechanism having discretepossible positions along a line 102. For example, a linear retractormechanism pulled by a spring and positioned by teeth. Optionally, cornermounting element 111 is locked in position by a spring mechanism pullingcorner mounting element 111 into track 114 and by resistance created bythe mounted camera equipped user device.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which is a schematic illustration of aself-photographing mount device mounting an iPhone 5 mobile phone,according to some embodiments of the present invention. Reference isalso made to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D which are schematic illustrationsof different views of a self-photographing mount device mounting aniPhone 5 mobile phone, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention.

Mounting structure 110 also includes a diagonal support element 113connecting between corner mounting element 111 and corner mountingelement 112.

Diagonal support element 113 is diagonally adjacent to the back of thecamera equipped user device 501 and is linearly moveable along a line103 to adjust to the diagonal length of camera equipped user device 501.Diagonal support element 113 has flat structure and is built alongmounting plane 101.

Optionally, diagonal support element 113 includes an inner diagonalelement 116 and an outer diagonal element 117. The linear movement ofdiagonal support element 113 is obtained by moving inner diagonalelement 116 inside outer diagonal element 117. The linear movement mayalso be obtained by any other mechanical structure, as described above.

Optionally, outer diagonal element 117 of diagonal support element 113is connected to corner mounting element 112, forming an acute angle withthe straight segments of corner mounting element 112.

Optionally, diagonal support element 113 is locked in position, so innerdiagonal element 116 cannot move inside outer diagonal element 117without opening the locking, by a fastener 118 of any type and/or amechanism, as described above.

Mounting structure 110 may be of any size generally fitting commoncamera equipped user devices, for example, 4, 6, 10, 15 centimeters wideand/or long and/or any other shorter, longer or intermediate size.

Optionally, corner mounting element 111 is not linearly moveable, andthe adjustment of mounting structure 110 is performed by othermovements. Optionally, corner mounting elements 111 and 112 areconnected to diagonal support element 113 by hinges, so the anglesbetween corner mounting elements 111 and 112, and diagonal supportelement 113 is adjustable to the diagonal of camera equipped user device501. When a different camera equipped user device is mounted, cornermounting elements 111 and 112 are rotated on the hinges so the anglesare adjusted to the different camera equipped user device.

Mount device 100 also includes an extendable shaft 120 having a handle121 at a proximal end thereof; and a hinge 122 mounted on cornermounting element 112 to allow pivotal rotation of extendable shaft 120from a folded position as shown in FIG. 1 to an open position as shownin FIG. 2.

Optionally, extendable shaft 120 is extended by having an inner shaft123 moving inside extendable shaft 120 to create telescopic movement sowhen not extended, inner shaft 123 is inside extendable shaft 120 andwhen extended inner shaft 123 is protruding from extendable shaft 120.Extendable shaft 120 may also be extended by any other mechanicalstructure, for example, an inner shaft moving inside an extendable shaftby a screw thread, an extendable shaft foldable via one or more joints,a flexible accordion-like extendable shaft and/or any other structure.

Extendable shaft 120 may be of any length, when extended or when notextended, for example, 10, 20, 30, 50 centimeters and/or any othershorter, longer or intermediate length. Handle 121 may be of anythickness fitting a user's grip, for example, 2, 3, 5 centimeters wideand/or any other shorter, longer or intermediate size.

Optionally, hinge 122 is locked in either folded position or openposition by a fastener 124. Fastener 124 may be, for example, a screwthat is inserted to hinge 122 and/or any other mechanical element, asdescribed above.

Optionally, handle 121 is not round, with non-circular cross-sectionalprofile, to prevent extendable shaft 120 from rolling while being heldby a user. The cross-sectional profile of handle 121 may be, forexample, rectangular, elliptic and/or any other shape.

Optionally, extendable shaft 120 includes at least one button 125 tooperate camera equipped user device 501. For example, button 125 may beused to activate the taking of the self-photograph. This may beperformed, for example, by initiating a command to camera equipped userdevice 501 using an electronic unit included in mount device 100. Theelectronic unit may be, for example, a printed circuit, an electronicchip, a communication device, a processing unit and/or any otherelectronic element. The command may be sent, for example, by wirelesscommunication such as wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol suchas Wireless Fidelity (WiFi™) and/or a wireless personal area network(WPAN) such as Bluetooth™ protocol.

When extendable shaft 120 is in folded position, it is adjacent tomounting plane 101 and parallel to a diagonal of a back panel of cameraequipped user device 501. When extendable shaft 120 is in open position,it forms a wide angle with mounting plane 101. The angle may be any wideangle, for example, 95, 130, 160 degrees and/or any other smaller,larger or intermediate angle.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7 which is a flowchart schematicallyrepresenting a method for adjusting a self-photographing mount device,according to some embodiments of the present invention.

First, as shown at 701, diagonal support element 113 is adjusted to fita diagonal length of camera equipped user device 501 between cornermounting elements 111 and 112.

Then, as shown at 702, corner mounting element 111 is adjusted to fitthe width of camera equipped user device 501.

Then, as shown at 703, hinge 122 is opened from a folded position to anopen position so extendable shaft 120 may be used to hold mountingstructure 110.

Then, optionally, as shown at 704, extendable shaft 120 is extended toincrease the distance between camera equipped user device 501 and theuser.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from thisapplication many relevant self-photographing mount devices will bedeveloped and the scope of the terms self-photographing and mount deviceis intended to include all such new technologies a priori.

As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having”and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”. This termencompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

The phrase “consisting essentially of” means that the composition ormethod may include additional ingredients and/or steps, but only if theadditional ingredients and/or steps do not materially alter the basicand novel characteristics of the claimed composition or method.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example,the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a pluralityof compounds, including mixtures thereof.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otherembodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from otherembodiments.

The word “optionally” is used herein to mean “is provided in someembodiments and not provided in other embodiments”. Any particularembodiment of the invention may include a plurality of “optional”features unless such features conflict.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention maybe presented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numberswithin that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This appliesregardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to includeany cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range.The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and asecond indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number“to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and aremeant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all thefractional and integral numerals therebetween.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated in their entirety by referenceinto the specification, to the same extent as if each individualpublication, patent or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. Inaddition, citation or identification of any reference in thisapplication shall not be construed as an admission that such referenceis available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent thatsection headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarilylimiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A self-photographing mount device for holding acamera equipped user device at a distance from a user, comprising: amounting structure having at least two mounting elements for mounting acamera equipped user device in parallel to a mounting plane by holdingat least two sides of said camera equipped user device; an extendableshaft having a handle at a proximal end thereof; and a hinge unitconnected to said mounting structure and mounted to allow pivotalrotation of said extendable shaft from a folded position in parallel toa mounting plane to an open position; when in said folded position, saidextendable shaft is parallel to said mounting plane and is disposedadjacent to the back of the camera equipped user device; and whereinsaid extendable shaft is extended by having an inner shaft moving insidesaid extendable shaft to create telescopic movement so when saidextendable shaft is in said folded position, said inner shaft is insidesaid extendable shaft, and when said extendable shaft is in said openposition said inner shaft is protruding from said extendable shaft. 2.The device of claim 1, wherein said hinge is adjacent to a side wall ofsaid mounted camera equipped user device when said mounted cameraequipped user device is mounted by said mounting structure.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said camera equipped user device is a mobilephone.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said camera equipped userdevice is a pocket camera.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein saidextendable shaft comprises at least one button to operate said cameraequipped user device.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said hinge islocked in said open position and in said folded position by a fastener.7. The device of claim 1, wherein said mounting structure comprises: afirst corner mounting element; a second corner mounting element linearlymoveable along a line to adjust at least one of a width and a length ofsaid camera equipped user device; and a diagonal support elementconnecting between said first and second corner mounting elements anddiagonally adjacent to a back of said camera equipped user device, saiddiagonal support element is linearly moveable along a line to adjust adiagonal length of said camera equipped user device.
 8. The device ofclaim 7, wherein at least one of said first corner mounting element,said second corner mounting element and said diagonal support element islocked by a fastener.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one ofsaid first corner mounting element, said second corner mounting elementand said diagonal support element is locked by a mechanism havingdiscrete possible positions along a line.
 10. The device of claim 7,wherein at least one of said first corner mounting element, said secondcorner mounting element and said diagonal support element is locked by aspring mechanism and by resistance created by said mounted cameraequipped user device.
 11. The device of claim 7, wherein said secondcorner mounting element is linearly moveable along a line by movinginside a track.
 12. The device of claim 7, wherein said diagonal supportelement is linearly moveable along a line by including an inner diagonalelement moving inside an outer diagonal element.
 13. The device of claim7, wherein at least one of said first and second corner mountingelements comprises two perpendicular straight segments, each one of saidstraight segments is adjacent and parallel to a side wall of saidmounted camera equipped user device.
 14. A self-photographing mountdevice for holding a camera equipped user device at a distance from auser, comprising: a mounting structure for mounting a camera equippeduser device, comprising: a plurality of mounting elements; and a supportelement connecting between said plurality of mounting elements parallelto a back of said camera equipped user device when said camera equippeduser device is mounted in said mounting structure; and an extendableshaft having a handle at a proximal end thereof, connected to saidmounting structure by a hinge allowing a pivotal rotation of saidextendable shaft from a folded position in parallel to a mounting planeto an open position; when in said folded position, said extendable shaftis adjacent and parallel to said mounting plane; and when in said openposition, said extendible shaft forms a wide angle with said mountingplane; wherein said mounting plane is substantially parallel to saidback of said camera equipped user device; wherein when in said foldedposition, said extendable shaft is about parallel and adjacent to saidsupport element.